In recent weeks and at my March 7 public meeting at the Manotick Arena, I spoke of another public meeting on April 11 to discuss the design of a new park in the Mahogany community, Major W. Ross Chamberlain Park. Unfortunately, this meeting has been postponed and will be rescheduled. As soon as I receive the new date, I will make sure you are aware. For clarity, I therefore repeat that the meeting scheduled for Thursday, April 11 at the Manotick Area has been postponed.

Rural Clean Water Grants Program

The City is now receiving applications for its Ottawa Rural Clean Water Grants Program, which provides grants to projects that protect groundwater and surface water in rural areas. Landowners completing projects in 2013 may be eligible for up to $15,000 in grants depending on the project they are undertaking. The application deadlines are May 1, 2013 (and September 30, 2013, if funds are available).

Some of the many eligible projects include: buffer strips, grassed waterways, livestock restrictions, land retirement, stream bank stabilization, tile outlet protection, tile drain control structures, and well decommissioning. Funding is also available to decommission wells within the city’s urban boundary.

Farmers from rural and urban Ottawa and landowners within rural Ottawa are eligible to apply. Approved applicants must have a completed the third Edition Environmental Farm Plan (farm projects) or Healthy Home Guidebook (non-farm projects).

Applications will be accepted through the LandOwner Resource Centre, which works in partnership with the Mississippi Valley, Rideau Valley, and South Nation Conservation Authorities and the City of Ottawa. Top up grants are also available for projects supported by the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association (pending program renewal), Green Acres Rural Reforestation program and the RVCA’s Shoreline Naturalization program.

Contact the LandOwner Resource Centre at 613-692-3571, toll free at 1-800-267-3504 ext. 1128 or 1132. Visit ottawa.ca/cleanwater for a full list of eligible projects and application forms.

Rural Pathways Shared-Use Policy Review

Have you visited one of Ottawa’s Rural Pathways? The City of Ottawa is interested in finding out what you thought of your pathway experience. The City of Ottawa boasts three major pathways in the city’s surrounding rural areas. At a combined length of over 65 km, these converted rail lines provide significant year round multi-use recreational pathway links.

The Prescott-Russell Pathway extends eastward from the greenbelt near Blair Road through the Village of Navan to the Prescott-Russell Trail at Canaan Road. The Osgoode Pathway extends southward from Leitrim Road to Buckles Street in Osgoode Village. The Ottawa-Carleton Trailway extends westward from Bells Corners near Fitzgerald Road through Kanata and Stittsville to Ashton Station Road and beyond to the Town of Carleton Place. The Ottawa-Carleton Trailway is part of the Trans Canada Trail.

The City of Ottawa encourages all pathway users to share their experiences by completing the online Shared-Use Experiences survey before April 15, 2013. The survey is implemented as part of the Rural Pathways Shared-Use Policy. The survey results will be collected and analyzed to help the City develop appropriate policies and programming to improve experiences and interactions on the pathways and thereby ensure comfortable and enjoyable experiences for all pathway users. For more information and to complete the survey, please visit ottawa.ca/ruralpathways.

Food Aid & Rural Expo – May 31, 2013

The annual Food Aid BBQ is taking place at Festival Plaza, City Hall on Friday, May 31 this year. The BBQ will bring the Ottawa Food Bank that much closer to raising the necessary funds to sustain its beef program for a year and support local farmers. New this year will be a “Rural Expo” as part of the event, so that urban residents can learn more about what rural Ottawa has to offer. If your organization wishes to participate in the Rural Expo, please contact the Rural Affairs Office at ruralaffairs@ottawa.ca or 613-580-2424 x28352.

If you have any questions, comments or concerns, please email me at Scott.Moffatt@ottawa.ca or contact me by phone at 613-580-2491.